Applications are open for the 2026O’Donnell Fellowship in Irish Studies at St Mary’s Newman Academic Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia. Information about the program and how to apply can be found on the website or by emailing Kathleen Kilmartin.
The application deadline is Friday 11 July 2025.
THE O’DONNELL FELLOWSHIP IN IRISH STUDIES
The O’Donnell library forms the core of an Irish Studies collection that has grown since 1924 with further donations and acquisitions relating to Ireland. Highlights of the collection include many 19th-century Irish histories and Irish-language publications. There are two 19th-century manuscripts, both available online at Irish Script on Screen, Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies.
More recent additions to the collection include a set of books on Irish themes from the library of Daniel Mannix (1864-1963), Irish-born former Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne; and a folder of papers and poems of Seamus Heaney.
The Irish Studies collection is now housed in the Gerry Higgins Room in the Academic Centre shared by Newman College and St Mary’s College. The room’s name pays tribute to a donor to Newman College, whose family and friends have also funded the Gerry Higgins Chair of Irish Studies at the University of Melbourne.
The collection is largely catalogued and records are available for searching via the Academic Centre’s library catalogue.
In addition there are extensive Irish Studies resources in libraries close by, particularly the University of Melbourne and the State Library of Victoria.
The O’Donnell Fellowship is available for the period Monday 5 January – Sunday 15 February 2026
The O’Donnell Fellowship aims to:
- Support scholars, especially new scholars, in Irish Studies and Irish History;
- Promote the Irish Studies library to a research audience;
- Add value to the library by encouraging scholarship based around it;
- Enhance the Academic Centre’s role as a community of scholars;
- Strengthen ties between the Centre and the Irish Studies community.
The O’Donnell Fellowship, which is non-stipendiary, offers physical and intellectual space to a scholar with an interest in Irish Studies, for a period of 6 weeks. The offering includes:
- College living quarters and all meals;
- Access to the Academic Centre building and collections;
- Research space in the Gerry Higgins Room;
- Access to the University of Melbourne library;
- $2000 for travel and other expenses.
Kathy Kilmartin on behalf of Prof Ronan McDonald, Dr Val Noone, Dr Dianne Hal, Dr Darcy McCormack, Dr Guglielmo Gottoli
Kathy Kilmartin, Director
St Mary’s Newman Academic Centre
887 Swanston St, Parkville, VIC 3052
